Paper feed for towel dispensers



July 23, 1946. P. A. WOOSTER PAPER FEED FOR TOWEL DISPENSERS Filed De c.31, 1 941 4 SheetS-Sheet 1 .W\ v \\V b Q m wm mm mm on 5 t 8 w% mm o 3 3m E lll 9 I'll!!! \EDN Y Q 7 muT I m... 3 U A w} i T 1% 4 Q B H b 8% U.2 l IQ Q. A @e W INVENTOR.

zed/we 76w TTURNEY July 23, 1946.

' P. A. WOOSTER PAPER FEED FOR TOWEL DISPENSERS Filed Dec. 31, 1941 4sheets-sheet 2 PAP P FEE FOR S TOWEL R e sh INV 'I E T? ORNEY P. A.WOOSTER PAPER FEED FOR TOWEL DISPENSERS July 23, 1946.

Filed Dec. 31, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IINVENTOR.

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' VM TORNEY Patented July 23, 1946 r UNITED stares re'rgm critics PAPERFEED FOR TOWEL.DISPENSERS Philip A. Wooster, San Rafael, Calif.

Application December 31, 1941, Serial No. 425,175

8 Claims. (01. 2'71'2'.3)' 1 e 2 This invention relates to dispensingdevices for including a housing of the type adapted to be paper towelsand the like, and particularly to secured to a wall in a convenientposition for dis.- paper feeding mechanism by means of which a pensingoperations. This housing, which is conroll of. toweling is supported inand advanced structedwitha view .to, providing simplicity, ru

from a dispensing cabinet. 5 gedness, and general accessibility foradjustment It is the object of the present invention to and servicing,comprises what may best be providev paper supporting and feeding meansfor termed an inner housing and a cover member a towel dispensingcabinet which will insure therefor. The inner housing consists of a backproper feeding of an uncrumpled and untorn plate H! (see Fig. '7) whichmay be secured length of toweling upon each dispensing operaagainst awall by any conventional means, and tion of the cabinet, and which willinsure against a bottom plate I I, preferably formed integrally jammingor clogging of the paper within the cabiwith and extending forwardlyfrom. the. lower netedge of the back plate. Secured to the back and Afurther object of the invention is the probottom plates are side plates[3' and; [4 (see also vision of a dispensing device in which the-operat-Fig. 1), which side plates. are set inwardly a short ing mechanism andthe most vital parts of the distance from. the outer edges of thebackand paper feeding mechanism. are protected against bottom plates andprovided with'outwardly protam'pering or adjustment by unauthorizedperjecting flanges I5 which extend all of the way' sons, even-when thedispenser is openedfor the around the side plates so that the side wallsof purpose of replenishing the towel supply therein. the housing are infact recessed. from their outer A still further object is the provisionof paper sides to provide spaces Within which may be disfeedingmechanism which advances a length of posed substantially all of themechanism by toweling to. a. position where it may be torn from means ofwhich the toweling is dispensed, a continuous roll upon each dispensingoperation Each of the recessed outer sides of the side of the cabinet,and to prevent tearing of. the 5 plates [3 and I4 is preferably coveredby inwardpaper within the cabinet at any point which is 1y flanged coverplates I6 and I Go, respectively,

likely to cause the paper to become jammed or which telescope into therecesses of the side crumpled or torn during. the. next dispensingopplates and form enclosures for the towel dispenseration. ingmechanism. The cover plates l6 and Mia Further jects d advantages of theinvenare secured to the side plates by means of screws ion are m p atinthe followin sp fisuch as indicated at la, which extend throughcation, wherein. detailed reference. is made to the the cover plates andare threaded into the side accompanying drawings. plates. These screwsare preferably of a type In the drawings. which may be removed only by aspecial tool, so

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view taken. through 3 that it will beimpossible for unauthorized peratowel dispenser constructed inaccordance with sons not provided with such a tool to gain accessthepresentinvention; to the paper supporting and feeding mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a. front elevation of the towel dispenser Any screw designedfor this purpose may be used, with the. lower front. portion. of thecover broken and one suitable type is known as the Phillips away toillustrate details. of construction of the screw, in which the head ofthe screw is proforward rolls, tearing edge, and associated parts; videdwith a cross-shaped recess requiring a spe- Eigs. 3-, 4 and. 5 aresectional views taken cially designed screwdriver for its insertionor'rethrough one. of the rollsshown. in Fig. 2, to; illusmoval.

trate.detailsol construction thereof; The housing is purposely left openthrough- Fig. 6.- is a sectional view taken on line VIVI 5 outsubstantially its entire forward and upper o F faces to permit insertionof rolls of paper towel- Fig. 7 is a. similar section taken. on. lineing of large diameter to be dispensed therefrom.

VII-'VII of 1.; The entire forward and top portions of the cab- Fig. 8.is a. perspective view of a detachable inet are, however, enclosed by ahinged cover bearing. member employed for oneo-f the forward memberindicated at. I! in Fig. 7, which cover rolls; and member also-includesside panels 20 (see Fig. 1.), Fig.. 9. is a, view similar. to Fig.6showing. the which are pivoted. as by pins l9 adjacent the invention.applied. to a different type of dispenser; lower. edge-of the housing sothat the cover may Referring to the drawings-in. detail, the towel i beswung about these pins to an open position dispenser of the presentinvention is, shown as where it will depend downwardly from the pins asimilar material.

1 which receives it.

A roll of paper toweling to be dispensed from the housing is supportedbetween the inner side 3 walls l3 and 14 thereof, as illustrated inFigs. 1 1 and 6. The roll is illustrated at 40 as wound upon aconventional hollow core 4| of pasteboard or 7 At the end adjacent theinner wall. l4 a'fitting 42, which may be formed of pressed metal, issecured into the core andprojects from the outer end thereof asufilcient distance to form a short trunnion received in theslot of aguide plate 43, which is secured to the inner 1 surface of the wall l4and which slot opens upwardly and. outwardly from the normal position ofnion 45 extends into the open end of the core to form a connectionpermitting rotation of the roll.

This trunnion is supported on a resilient plate 45 which is secured asby screws 41 at its lower end to the outer surface of the wall l3, andwhich, adjacent its upper end, has an inwardly bentpor- 1 tion 48 whichextends through the wall l3. In

order to remove the roll, the resilient plate 46 is swung outwardlyuntil the trunnion 45 is withdrawn from its position within the core sothat 1 the entire roll, or the core from which all the paper has beenwithdrawn, .may be moved up.

1 wardly in the direction of the slot formed in the plate 43.0n the walll4.

r The recess in the wall l3 through which the serve to limit the outwardmovement of the resilient plate and therefore prevent its being 1 brokenor sprung beyond its resilient limits.

7 While the weight of a new roll of paper toweling is sufficient tomaintain the trunnion 42 in the lower end of the slot in which itrotates, there is some possibility, due to the fact that the r011becomes light as the supply of toweling is de- 7 1 pleted, thatdispensing operations are likely to result in its becoming dislodged ormisplaced. Therefore, in order to prevent accidental re-.

moval of the trunnion from the lower endof the slot in which it rotates,and likewise to prevent l malicious removal of the roll of toweling bypersons unfamiliar with the construction of the dispenser, the presentinvention provides means to ear tapers towarditsupper or forward end andis formedat substantially right angles to the the center of the core inorder that a roll of paper may conveniently be inserted and removedtherefrom. At the opposite end of the roll 40 atrun- 1 portion 48 of theresilient plate 46' extends, is formed by pressing or punching outwardlytwo 1 of its edges, which form guide walls 49 (see Figs. 1 and '7),between which the resilient plate 46 is guided, and these guide wallsare in turn 1 provided with inwardly punched-tongues which 4 wall at itslower end so that as the roll of toweling is inserted, the trunnion 42will ride over the the outer edge of the trunnion bearing for rotationin the lower end of the slot in the member 43 In'order to remove thecore of the roll after the supply of toweling has been depleted, it isnecessary, therefore, to withdraw the resilient plate 46 sufficiently topermit the core to be moved to the left, where the trunnion 42 willclear the ear 5! before it is withdrawn.

With the roll of toweling supported for rotation in the manner justdescribed, the free end v thereof is led downwardly as shown at in Fig.6,

and trained over a dispensing roller 56 so that its outer edge'mayproject over a serrated tearing edge 51 which forms one edge of anopening in the bottom of the dispenser. A pressure roller 58 engages thepaper at approximately its line of contactwith the dispensing roller 56so that upon rotation of thedispensing roller, the paper will be fedoutwardly through the bottom of the dispenser, and when a measuredlength of toweling has been projected, it may be torn off against thetearing edge 51.

The position of the pressureroller 58 relative to the dispensing roller56 is important in insuring against the paper becoming torn at a pointwithin the machine that will prevent its proper feeding on a subsequentdispensing operation. As best illustrated in Fig. 6, the pressure roller58 is above the dispensing roller so that the line of contact betweenthe rollers'is near the top of the dispensing roller. Consequently, theleading edge of the paper toweling extends around the greater part ofthe forward face of the dispensing roller before it passesoutwardlythrough the opening in r the bottom of the cabinet. Because ofthe friction between the paper and the large area over which it contactsthe dispensing roller after; it

leaves the point of contact between the dispensing roller and thepressure roller, it is impossible to tear the paper by a direct pull ata point behind the next dispensing operation, the remaining towelingwill be held between and advanced by the operation of the rollers.

The serrated tearing edge 51 1s formed on a curved plate 59 (seeFigs. 2and 6) which is permanently secured between the lower forward edges ofthe side members l3 and I4, and at its upper edge the plate 59 has aplurality of fingers Bit cut and pressed therefrom to project upwardlyinto grooves 6| formed at spaced intervals in the pressure roller 58.These fingers serve as guides to facilitate leading the free edge of thepaper '55 to its proper dispensing position between the rolls, and theplate 59 is so curved that it will also serve as a guide to cause thepaper to follow around the outer surface of the dispensing roll 56. Thisplate, as shown in Fig. 6, is spaced from the dispenser roll a distancewhich increases toward its lower or tearing edge so as to insure againstany possibilityof the paper becoming crumpled'and jammed as it is beingfed'outwardly. V

In order to prevent the free edge of the paper from continuing aroundthe dispensing roll 56 instead of being projected outwardly through theslot in the bottom of the dispenser, fingers 62 project upwardly intogrooves 55a formed at" spaced intervals in the dispensing roller '56.These fingers 62 are preferably punched and bent from the edge of aplate B3 permanently secured to the bottom of the dispenser. I

A modification in the manner in which the paper is arranged inconnectionwith the rollers is illustrated in Fig. 9 and is applicable to a type ofdispensing cabinet in whichv the supply rollof paper is supported oninclined ledges within the cabinet. As shown in Fig. 9 the supply rollrests on a pair of ledges, one of which isshown at 43a, these ledgesbeing arranged one on. each of the opposite side wall of thecabinet.These ledges are inclined forwardly so that the supply roll restsagainst: the inner-surface of the dispensing roller-56a and thuspresents the added advantage of an even greater area of contact betweenthe paper and the dispensing roller, the area being increased by thedistance between the line where the supply roll contacts the dispensingroller and the line where the pressure roller contacts it. In thismodification the plate 5.9a serves the. purpose of the plate 59 in Fig.6 and carries a tearing edge 51a, corresponding to the tearing edge 51.Fingers 60a extend into the grooves of the roller 58.

The arrangement of. the dispenser and pressure rollers herein disclosedas well as the passage of the paper over said rolls and out of thecabinet are all disclosed in my copending application filed March. 28,1941, Serial No. 385,659,

of which the present application is a continuation in part.

It has been found in practice that upon feeding a strip or web of paperbetween rolls such as those described, there is often a tendency for thepaper to be fed to one side or the other or to befed toward the centerfrom both sides, with the result that the paper becomes bunched andwrinkled as it is dispensed. The principal reason for uneven feeding andcrowding of the paper webbetween feeding rolls is misalignment orwarping of the rolls to the extent that the pressure between. the rollsvaries at different points. Consequently, the paper toweling, which isusually of soft texture or crinkled to enhance its absorbent qualities,becomes compressed or lengthened at the point of greatest pressurebetween the rolls and consequently is fed more rapidly at some pointsthan it is at others. In

order to provide for release of the paper at ire quent intervalsthroughout its width, and thereby to: insure its self-adjustment andeven feeding, one of the rolls, and preferably the smaller or pressureroll 58, has its contacting portions, or portions between the slots 6|,cut away or relieved so that they will engage with. the paper atalternating times during rotation of the roll. This is bestillustratedin Figs. 2 to 5, inclusive, wherein the two central contacting members,marked a, have a full circular periphery, as shown in. Fig. 3. The nextrollers, spaced outwardly from the central rollers, as well as therollers on the outermost end, all marked b, have their peripheries cutaway throughout approximately 160, as illustrated in Fig. 5, while therollers 0, intermediate the pairs of rollers b, are cut away throughoutapproximately 160,

but in a different cyclic position, as illustrated.

in Fig. 4. Consequently, upon rotation of the rollers to advance thepaper web, the central portions a engage the paper continuously, whilethe roller 1) and c engage the paper alternately so that any unevennessin the feed and any tendency for the paper to become misaligned will becorrected by self-adjustment of the paper as it is periodically releasedat different points throughout its width.

The dispensing roller 56 is mounted in bearings; which facilitate its vremoval, which give it a bearing support, andv which may readily betrunnions: 64 projecting outwardly from its opposite ends; and:journaled in disc-like bearings 65 which areposi-tioned' with respect tothe side walls 53 and M by inwardly projecting members 66 which extendinto suitably positioned perforations, in. the side walls. Thesebearings 65 are held in place against the outer surfaces of the sidewalls by plates 61 which may be formed of spring steel or any suitablestrip of sheet metal bent to overlie the hearings 6.5: andto have loweredges 68'' bent inwardly and downwardly to project. through. slots 69formed in the walls l3- and it. At, their upper ends the plates 61 areperforated to embrace ears. H) which project outwardly fromzt'he outersurfaces. of the walls: [3 and I4, and which are perforated for thereception of cotter keys H, or other suitable; securing means to securethe bearing; discsv in place.

The pressure roller 58 is also mounted in replaceable bearings whichpermit of its easy assembly and removal, and which are combined withresilient means for urging it; into contact with the dispensing roller56. The construction of these bearingsis illustrated in Figs. 2, 7 and8, wherein the roller is shown as: provided with. journals l3 projectingfrom its opposite ends and fitting in notches which form half bearingsin the lower end of' a U;-shaped lever M. This lever is pivota'lly'supported on. a pin 1-5 which projects: through. holes 15- formed in thelever and also through aligned holes formed on the. side walls of thehousing and in a plate 11 secured to and spaced from the outer side ofeach of the walls 13 andv l.4:. Openings 18 in the walls l3 and- I4receive permit the connected ends of the lever M to oscillate about thepin 15-, and aspri-ng 19 forming a connection between the lever and thehousing normally urges the forward end of the lever downwardly so thatthe roller 58 journaled in the half bearings in that end of the: leveris pressed against the dispensing roller The pressure roller so mountedmay be readily removed by pressing downwardly on the inner end of one ofthe levers M so that its journal may be removed from the half bearingsat the outer end of the lever, and the roll swung outwardly from thatbearing and. then pulled longitudinally from beneath the oppositebearing. As shown in Fig. 7, a cotter key 85, or similar pin, may bedisposed acrossthe opening 6 normally to prevent downward swinging ofthe lever 14 and consequently to prevent removal of the roller. Thiscotter key 85! is disposed on the outside of .the side wall it and isvconcealed between this wall and the cover plate [5 to prevent removal ofthe roll. except after. removal of said: cover plate.

The dispensing rollerfrfi is rotated to effect ejec-' ti-on of a. lengthof toweling from the housing, so that it may be torn off along thetearing edge 5?, by means of a small gear 31' (see. Figs. 2 and 6)secured to. an end of the dispensing roller, as by operating crank 81;This crank is preferably bent from the same material of which the shaftthreaded to its inner end. The driving gear 83 and a hardened journalcollar 92 are assembled on the bushing 89 and secured between the head9!! and nut Si by tightening of the nut. A cotter pin 93 may be providedto prevent longitudinal sliding of the bushing 89 on the shaft 84. Thehardened journal collar 92 is'received for rotation in a bearing94'which is in the form of an annulus swaged over the edge'of a suitableopen ing in the wall [4 of the housing. Ample space is left at the headend of the bushing 89 to accommodate the control mechanism for retardingor delaying dispensing operations of the crank 81,

as is common practice in'dispensers of this'kind. No such mechanism isdisclosed herein, however, as it'has no direct bearing on the operationof the present invention. e

As heretofore stated, the fitting 42, shown in Fig.1, which projectsfrom an end of the roll of paper to form a trunnion, is preferablyformed of metal. In order to avoid rough exposed edges and also toprovide a durable and smooth bearing surface, the outer edge of thistrunnion is flanged or bent inwardly upon itself, as shown. In thismanner a smooth and durable surface is formed to bear against the ear 5|when necessary, though the trunnion be formed inexpensively by beingstamped from relatively thin metal.

Having .thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent is: 1'. The combination with a cabinet for dis-jpensing paper toweling or the like from a roll,

of a dispensing roller adjacent the front and bottom of the cabinet, apressure roller having annular grooves therein and mounted above and incontact with the dispensing roller and portions of the pressure rollerbetween the annular grooves being relieved part way around the roller,such 2. The combination with a cabinet for dis pensing paper toweling orthe like from a roll, of a-dispensing roller. adjacent the front andbottom of the cabinet, a pressure roller mounted above and in contactwith the dispensing roller, 1 and a fixed guide positioned to confinethe toweling between guide and the friction driving roller,

said guide forming with the dispensing roller a throat wideningprogressively from the pressure roller to an opening formed in thebottom of the cabinet, thelower edge of said guide being serrated toform severing means for the paper.

3. Ina cabinet for dispensing paper towels or the like, a feed rollerextending between relatively thin metal sidewalls, trunnions on saidroller,

bearing members therefor fitting in perforations on the side walls andhaving shoulders engaging the walls, and removable plates retaining thebearing members in position in said perforations.

4; Ina cabinet for dispensing'paper toweling or the like and havingsheet metal side walls, means for supporting rotatable shafts extendingthrough said side walls comprising shouldered bearings received byperforations in the walls, and plates detachably secured to the wallsand overlying the bearings to retain them against displacement. 5. In acabinet for dispensing paper toweling from roll, a dispensing rollerjournaled in the cabinet and over which the toweling passes, and a guideplate fixed to the cabinet and spaced from the surface of the dispensingroller to provide a throat between plate and roller widening toward theend through which the toweling emerges, the lower edge of the plateforming a tearing edge for the toweling and lying under the centralportion of'the roller.

6. In a cabinet, for dispensing paper toweling from a roll, a dispensingroller journaled in the cabinet and over which the toweling passes, acurved guide plate spaced from the surface of the dispensing roller toprovide a throat between plate and roller widening toward the endthrough under side of the dispensing roller and the tearing edge.

P 7. Inja cabinet for dispensing paper toweling from a roll, adispensing roller journaled in the cabinet and over which the towelingpasses to an opening in the cabinet, at pressure roller journaled in thecabinet to press the toweling against the dispensing-roller, and a guideplate fixed to the cabinet and spaced from the surface of the dispensingroller to form therewith a throat progressively widening from thepressure roller to said opening.

. 8. In a cabinet for dispensing paper toweling from a roll, adispensing roller journalled in the cabinet and over which the towelingpasses to an opening in the cabinet, a pressure roller journalled inthecabinet to press the toweling against the dispensing roller, and aguide plate fixed to the cabinet and spaced from the surface of thedispensing roller to form therewith a throat progressively widening fromthe pressure roller to said opening, the lower edge of the plate forminga tearing edge on which the toweling may be severed.

- PHILIP A. WOOSTER.

